Dinner with Mr. Evans

The Nouveau-riche Romance

Chapter three

"So he is the CEO of his own private company, at just twenty-eight?" Joan held up a pink puff sleeves dress up for Francesca's appraising eyes. "What about this?"

"He is not the sole owner of Maven enterprise, but yeah he runs the place," Francesca fixed the dress Joan held up for her with a look of distaste. "Isn't that old, don't you have any new ones?" Francesca rummages through the bundle of clothes on Joan's bed, "what did you do with all your time in Washington?"

"I was in college remember?" Joan seething pulls out a red sleeveless gown, "I had to support myself working part-time jobs, didn't have the luxury nor time for dresses."

"If I remembered correctly, I offered help back then, but you rejected it, now let me take a look at that dress," Francesca said pointing to the dress in Joan's hand.

"This is a fairly new one, I bought it just before I graduated college," Joan said holding the red dress up to her body for Francesca to see. "Besides, I don't know why I have to be critical about what I wear, it's just a date, you know?"

"This one just might do," Francesca took the dress from Joan and inspected it. "Joan, darling, this is more than choosing a dress for a date, Asher Evans is a very difficult man, and no one knows what goes on in his head, he is a man not so predictable."

"Come on Fran, how difficult can this Asher be?" Joan faux mocked her aunt

"From what I've heard very difficult," Francesca said handing the red dress back to Joan. "Lest I forget, when you meet Asher you can't tell him your family name," Francesca instructed Joan.

"Yea, I got it," Francesca had asked Joan not to tell Asher her last name, for fear he would uncover their little plot.

 "Now get dressed, I need to see how you look in that gown."

Joan had declined Francesca's offer to drive her to Le Monet, a very expensive restaurant in Chelsea, she instead opted to go in a taxi.

She wasn't sure she could bear any more of her aunt fussing over her. Francesca had chosen everything she was wearing, from the red sleeveless straight gown to black ankle strap heels, a black purse, and a black coat. She'd decided to use a minimal amount of makeup, which Francesca agreed with. 

Joan took stoke of the interior of Le Monet as she stepped inside, she liked the atmosphere of the restaurant, especially the soft glow of the lights. She heard it was hard to get a reservation at Le Monet, she wondered how Asher pulled it off.

"Good evening ma'am, welcome to Le Monet," a scrawny man behind the desk at the entrance said. 

"Good evening, I have a reservation here for two, Asher Evans?"

"A moment ma'am," the host said as he looked through the reservation list. "That would be table number nine, we'll take your coat for you," the host said as a hostess took her coat.

"Right this way ma'am," a new hostess said leading Joan to Asher's table.

As Joan moved closer to Asher's table, she couldn't help but be smitten by how gorgeous he was. He had straight brown hair, a well-chiseled face, and the most intense green eyes, he wore a dark blue suit, and a white shirt, with no tie, he was just gorgeous.

"Hello," Joan managed to squeak out as she got to his table.

"what did you say?" Asher stood up and asked her with a far-off look in his eyes.

"I said hello, I'm Joan," she said with a bit more confidence, this time holding her hand out for a shake.

"E... em, ah yes, pardon me, I am Asher, Asher Evans, please have a seat," Asher said and shook her hand.

Joan almost swooned by the sound of Asher's husky voice, his tall physique, and the soft steel from his handshake, he truly was gorgeous.

Asher also couldn't deny Joan's beauty and the effects it has on him, but his need to marry a woman of substance trumps any silly romance. 

"I'm so sorry to keep you waiting," Joan apologized to Asher.

"No need to apologize, I came here early is all, shall we eat first?"

"Yes let's do that."

Asher signaled to a nearby waiter who hurries over to their table with the menu. "You should know that Le Monet is known for their excellent steak menu," Asher points out to Joan as he browsed through the menu. 

After going through the menu, Joan ordered the filet mignon with creamed spinach, while Asher ordered a serving of premium ribeye, caesar salad on the side, and a bottle of red wine for both of them.

"I heard it's hard to get a reservation here, how did you get us a table in such a short timeframe?" Joan inquired as the waiter left with their orders.

"Well let's just say the owner owes me a favor," Asher replied curtly. 

"I wonder how great this favor is if it gets us a table here," Joan remarked playfully.

"Premium ribeye, with caesar salad on the side, filet mignon with the creamed spinach and a bottle of red wine, enjoy your meals, ma'am, sir," the waiter articulated while serving their order.

Asher waited till after dinner and the waiting staff had cleared their table before deciding to get to know Joan albeit in his twisted way. 

He resolved to do away with the bothersome tip-toeing that occurs while asking questions on the first date and just dive right into it.

"So I'd like to ask, what do you do for a living?" Asher inquired of Joan whilst nursing his glass of red.

"Well, I work as an industrial designer for a design firm in Washington." 

The night was young and Asher was already displeased, he'd never heard of any old money heir work as an industrial designer, it began to dawn on him that his date would be disappointing. 

He'd specifically told Jackson and his matchmaker friend he wanted a woman from high society, he would surely make his grievances known the next time he sees Jackson.

"I'd like you to tell me a bit about your family if you do not mind of course."

Joan was quite taken aback by Asher wanting to know about her family. Joan couldn't help but wonder if her ruse has been uncovered by Asher. She was confused as to where to start from, and how much was safe to tell him.

"Well...um..., well, I am an only child, and I lived in New York with my dad till I was eighteen, then I had to leave for college," Joan sputtered, she wasn't expecting Asher to go right to ask about her family.

"What about your mom?" Asher asked the unwary Joan. 

"Well my mom, um... she died, I was young when it happened," Joan replied in a terse tone. 

Joan was upset, it seemed her date with Asher has turned into an interview. If it was not for the situation of Hargreaves Corporation she would have left in anger, but she couldn't deny the fact she needed someone like Asher.

Asher recognized the snarky tone in Joan's voice, but it didn't bother him one bit. He had to determine if Joan was someone he would keep seeing or not, and at present he found, that he did not need Joan, he would have to end their night soon.

"I'm sorry about your mom," Asher sighed, just another of society's rules to follow, he wasn't sorry about Joan's mother, he didn't even know her.

"What about you, tell me about you, your family, I'm curious too."

Asher decided it was time to pull the plug on their date and cancel dessert. "I guess I'll start by saying am an only child too, and I was born and raised here, in New York by my parents, until they both died when I was fifteen." 

Asher looked into Joan's eyes, he wanted to see her reaction to what he said, it amused him the way she expressed her emotions in her eyes.

Joan was red-faced by Asher's words, "I am so sorry Asher, I had no idea," Joan couldn't believe how their nights turned out.

"It's ok, no need to be sorry, there's no way you could've known," Asher stated as an air of awkwardness hovered over them. "Should we get the check?" Asher asked finally bringing the night to an end.

Joan nodded her affirmation, she wanted to be done too, Francesca's plan was doomed from the beginning, there was not going to be a second meeting with Asher, not unless she requested for it.

Both Asher and Joan walked out into the cold night air after Asher had settled their bills, Asher quickly hailed a taxi for Joan.

"Um, so thank you, Asher, I had a great time,"

"You don't have to lie, it was dreadful, and it was mostly my fault," Asher spoke softly with a patronizing smile.

Joan noted Asher's smile, the only one she'd seen that night, it was a sad unnatural smile-patronizing even- and the smile never reached his eyes, it made her curious about this man before her.

"You should get in now, we don't want to keep the cab waiting much longer," Asher said holding the door open for Joan.

"Yeah right, I should go," Joan enters the cab and rolls down the windscreen.

"Hey, Asher!" Joan called out to a retreating Asher, "I know tonight was a disaster, but it doesn't have to be the last one, you know, I know a great coffee place, call me if you're interested, okay?" Joan hollered as her taxi drove off.

Asher knew what he'd done could be termed shallow and maybe even despicable, but he was glad to finally be done, his quest for a bride that helps him into the company of society's elite continues.

"I'd better get myself a cab too, wouldn't wanna drive a car drunk."